Casing-head.



No. 703,832. Patented July l, |902.

C. F. RIGBY.

CASING HEAD.

(Application led Oct. 2l, 1901.:

(No Model.)

l..- wh@ W/ TNES SE S.

raras CLARK F. RIGBY, OF NEW MARTINSVILLE, VEST VIRGINIA.

CAslNGmHEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,832, dated July 1, 1902.

Application filed OctoberZl, 1901. Serial No.4 79.351. (No model.) l

AHeads, of which the following is a specifica` tion, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

One object ofthek present-invention is to provide a quick-acting closurefor oil and gas well casing-heads, together with effective means for setting and releasing. the same.

A further object is to so construct the casing-head that steam may be discharged therefrom for extinguishing the iiames when from any cause the oil or gas flowing from the well becomes` igni-ted. Y

The invention consists in the novel features of construction .and in the combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 isa top plan'view of my improved casing-head shown partly in section and with the valve-sections closed. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the same, the valve being open. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken at right angles to Fig. 2, showing one of` the valve-.sections open and the other closed, together with the detachable wrench for operating the sections. Fig. 4 is a detailed View of the Wrench.

Referring to the drawings, 2 represents the upper portion of a well-casing, and uniting with` the upper end thereof is the casinghead 3, provided with the usual line connections 4. The open upper portion of the head is constructed to form the circular horizontal seat 5, and closing upward against the under side thereof are the semicircular Valve-sections 6, which cooperate in such manner as to effectively close the seat-opening. These valve sections may be hinged at opposite sides of the casing-head in any suitable manner; but I prefer to construct each section with ears 6', Which are mounted on hingepins 7, the latter being supported by ears 8, projecting fromthe wall of head 3. 'A spring 9'is coiled about the hinge-pin, with its eX- tremites 9/ impinging the wall of the head and the under surface of the valve-section,

Ihead.

the action of the spring being to hold the valve-section normally closed and to resist opening thereof.

Any suitable latch arrangement may be provided for holding the valve-sections open; but in the preferred embodiment of my invention I provide the under surface of each section with an angular catch 10, which cooperates With the inner angular end 11 of latch 11,.rotatably mounted in the casing- Onthe outer/portion o f the latch is a spring 12, and the faces of latch projection 11' and angular catch 1() are beveled in such manner as to cause the latch to be engaged automatically when the valvesection is opened. On the outer extremity of latch 11 is .an arm 13, whereby the latch may be convenien'tly operatedvfor releasing the valvesection when it is desired `to close the casing-head. A wire may be connected to arm 13, whereby the operationof closing may be effected from a distance at times when itis unsafe to nearer approach the `well, or in such an emergency the latch may be rotated by striking the arm13 with a rifle-ball. The upper face of each valve-section and also the edge thereof which cooperates with the other valve-section are preferably provided 'with a rubber covering 14:, making a sealed joint with seat 5. The rubber may be secured in any suitable manner; but I prefer to confine p the same by means of a metallic plate 15, riveted to the Valve-section- Forsetting the valve-sections-thatis,mov ing them from closed to open position- I provide a wrench of special form havinga curved arm 16 and an operating-handle 17, diverging from a fulcrum-eye 18. At the outer side of the upper portion of the casing-head, opposite each of the valve-section hinges, is a fulcrum-pin 18', arranged in such manner that the Wrench may be readily mounted thereon at eye 18 and removed therefrom. With the valve-sections closed the wrench is applied as shown in full lines in Fig. 3, curved arm 16 thereof engaging .the upper face of the valve-section or, more properly, plate 15, secured thereto. The wrench is then turned upon its fulcruin through the medium of handle 17 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby moving the valve-section to open position against the resistance of IOO spring 9, when it is automatically engaged and held by latch ll. The wrench is applied to the casing-head only when the valve-sections are to be opened, being at other times detached and out of the way.

The upper portion 3 of the casing-head is cored to form a channel 19, with jet-holes 2O extending to the inner surface of the said head projection. Channel 19 is connected by pipe 2l to a source of steam. When from any cause the iowing oil or gas becomes ignited, the steam may be turned on and caused to issue through the jet-holes 20 and extinguish the flames.

With a casing-head constructed as here shown and described it will be seen that with the valve-sections open an unobstructed passage is afforded for the tools and drilling-cable. When, however, the flow begins, the head may be closed and sealed the instant the tools are removed, and, as above indicated, this may be accomplished whether the operator be in close proximity to the Well or at a distance therefrom.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a casing-head, a valve-seat surrounding its upper open end, a vertically swinging spring-actuated valve Within the head and closing upwardly against the seat, and latch mechanism for holding the y valve, normally open.

2. The combination of a casing-head, and vertically swinging coperating valve sections at opposite sides of the upper open end of the head and adapted to close the same.

3. The combination of a casing-head, a Vertically-swinging spring-actuated valve for closing the upper open end thereof, and a lever fulcrumed to the upper portion of the casing-head, the lever being constructed with an arm adapted to engage the upper surface of the valve, whereby when the lever is oscillated the valve is opened.

4. The combination of a casing-head, ahorizontal valve-seat below the upper end of the head, a vertically-swinging valve below the seat and adapted to close upwardly thereagainst, the wall of the head above the valve being cored to form a steam-channel, a steamsupply connection for said channel, the wall being formed with openings extending from the channel to the inner face of the head.

5. A casing-head having a through-andthrough vertical passage of sufficient size to pass drilling-tools and permit of the free operation of a drilling-cable, the casing-head being formed With lateral outlets and at its lower end adapted to unite with a Well-casing, in combination with valve mechanism operatively mounted Within the head and adapted to close over and seal the upper portion of the through-and-through passage above the lateral outlets, said valve mechanism when open being entirely out of the path of the tools and cable.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLARK F. RIGBY.

Witnesses:

E. A. MOCABE, L. M. STEPHENS. 

